Zolani Mkiva

Zolani Mkiva

Zolani is the foremost practioner of one of the oldest oral traditions in africa, ukubonga (praise singing). Hailing from Idutywa a small town in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, Zolani rose to prominence in 1990 when, barely a month after becoming a fully-fledged Imbongi Yesizwe (Poet of the Nation), the schoolboy was called upon to salute with a red hot rendition the recently released Nelson Mandela at his Welcome Home Rally in Transkei.